Irvine Runs Hot, Then Cold, in Beating San Jose State

A not-so-funny thing happened to UC Irvine en route to its victory over San Jose State Thursday night. But the Anteaters were still able to smile, albeit sheepishly, when it was over.

Irvine, putting on its most impressive show of offense this season, was cruising along with a 20-point lead early in the second half when the Spartans caught a spark, Irvine went dead at the free-throw line, and suddenly it was a three-point game.

But the Anteaters--with a huge assist from senior forward Shaun Battle, who scored eight of his career-high 27 points in the final four minutes--hung on for a 78-70 Big West victory in front of 1,880 in the Bren Center. That gave them their first 2-0 start in conference play in 10 years.

“I tried to tell them how big this win was,” Coach Rod Baker said, “but I don’t think they really understand. I think, from a history standpoint, some of you would point out that in the past we probably would have lost this game.”

Anteater fans know what Baker meant. Irvine (5-4) squandered a 16-point lead and lost to San Diego only two weeks ago.

This, however, would have been an even more devastating defeat. The Anteaters’ offense was so good in the early going that with 16:54 left in the game, the Spartans were shooting 68% from the floor and trailing by 19 points.

By halftime, Battle had made six of eight shots from the floor and already tied his previous career high with 15 points. Point guard Raimonds Miglinieks, on his way to 14--had eight assists and had already lost three when teammates were fouled and missed easy layups. And the Anteaters had 13 offensive rebounds.

Then . . .

“All of sudden, it was like we had our eyes closed at the free-throw line,” Baker said. “We ran decent enough offense to get fouled, but to keep coming up empty like that in those situations just tightened us up and tightened us up.”

San Jose (2-8, 1-1) was trailing, 61-41, with 14:55 to play. But the Spartans went on a 24-4 run. The 24 they earned with quickness and a lot of fast-break layups. The 4 was a gift from the Anteaters, who were an unbelievably inept five for 18 from the line in the second half.

Battle ended up making 11 of 14 shots and had eight rebounds, but his biggest contribution may have come on defense.

“Battle took our post men to school tonight,” San Jose Coach Stan Morrison said. “He was brilliant.”